Typewriting machine



J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRI'TING MACHINE Sept. 21, 1937.

Filed Oct. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sent. 21, 1937.

J. A. B. SMITH 2,093,578

TYPEWRITING umcnma riled Oct. 15, 1955 s Sheets-Shee t 2 ATTQ RN EY.

Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES TYPE-WRITING MACHINE Jesse A. B.Smith, Stamford,- Conn., assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 15, 1935,Serial No. 45,061

14 Claims. (01. 197-126) This invention relates to typewritingmanifolding.

Much time has been lost in the handling of individual letter sheets.This invention utilizes a roll of continuous carbon paper, single ormul-' tiple, in combination with a carbon holder, which typingoperations. The duplicating strips are retained in' position so thatsucceeding groups of work-sheets1ianbe A assembled in proper relation tothe duplicating strips, with a minimum of handling; the retaining meanspermitting the worn out portions of the carbon sheets to be withdrawn.

Another object is to provide improved means for quickly and positivelyaligning the work sheets in proper relation to the duplicating strips. Afurther object is to provide means whereby a copy of an envelope addresscan readily be made on the ofiice or file" copy, to prove the accuracyof the envelope address.

' According to the present improvements, a supply spool of carbon web,of the'desired number of plies, is mounted upon a rear extension of thecarriage of the typewriter. Upon a flexible work-.

3 ing off from the supply spool at this inserting laid upon anintercalating table, which extends upwardly and rearwardly from thedelivery side of the platen. The band retains the carbon plies, whoseleading ends are then clipped forwardly, so that a work-sheet may belaid upon the leading portion of the carrier. The work-sheet is set downto a gage. .The gage consists of two stops,

one at eachside of the carbon-path, to permit the relatively narrowcarbons to advance past the stops. Then the lowest carbon-ply is laidback upon the work-sheet. Then a second sheet, is laid upon said lowestcarbon-ply. Then the'second carbon is laid over upon the second workr0sheet, and so on. The intercalated sheets, with the carrier, are thenrolled backwardly into the machine, to bring them to position to receivethe first line of typing. I

After typing the page, the assemblage is ad 55 vanced far enough for thework-sheets to clear the bottom rolls (the top rolls having been castoperation. The leading portion of the carrier is ofi), and then thework-sheets are withdrawn from the machine. Fresh sheets are inserted asbefore. when the carbon is worn, the carrier is temporarily clamped tothe work-table, while the carbon-plies are pulled forwardly and the 5worn portion is torn off by a knife.

An envelope to accompany the typed letter, may be inserted with itsbottom resting upon the side 'stops below the top edge of the band orclip, and a small carbon-sheet may be placed between 10 the envelope andthe original work-sheet, and the address that is typed upon the envelopewill be duplicated upon the work sheet or sheets.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an end view, partially in section, of the manifol'dingattachment as applied to Underwood standard typewriter.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the guide 'or holder 20 for the duplicatingstrips and work-sheets.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the work holder -taken through A-A ofFigure 2, showing two duplicating strips in position.

Figure 4 is a perspective of the invention. 25 Figure 5 is a sectionalend .view of the knife in cutting position.

Figure 6' is a perspective illustrating the method of removing the usedcarbon strips preparatory to cutting them, with portions of the stripstorn away to illustrate details'oi the invention.

Figure 'I is an end view showing how the slack of the duplicating striproll might tend to loop around the roller as the work-sheets are broughtinto typing position. V

Figure 8 illustrates a weighted roller to overcome the conditionillustrated by Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a perspective of-a removable work rack or support.

Figure 10 is an end view' showing the weighted 40 roll in position andthe work-rack in use.

Figure 11 is a perspective illustrating an addressed envelope inposition in the work holder l so that the typewritten address willappear on slightly narrower than the work-sheets with which it is to beused is mounted on a shaft 22,

and supported between rearwardly and upwardly projecting arms 23 whichmay be secured to the carriage frame 24 by means of the brackets 25which support the tabular rack 26. To facilitate the removal of thecarbon roll and shaft one arm 23 may be formed with a hole 21 to looselyjournal one end of roll shaft 22, while the other arm may have asuitable round bottom slot 28 to cradle a reduced diameter end of theroll shaft. The carbon roll is preferably adjustable laterally on theroll shaft, in which case means such as the collars 29 and set-screws 30may be used to fix the roll firmly to the shaft. Lateral movement of theroll shaft relative to the brackets is prevented by forming .the'endengaging .the bracket-slot 29 of suitably smaller diameter than theremainder of the shaft'so that a shoulder 3| will engage the inner wallof the bracket. At the opposite end a detent gear 32 suitably fixed tothe shaft 22 engages the detent spring 33, which serves to prevent theaccl-l dental rotation of roll 2|, and also urges the shoulder formed inthe shaft against the inside wall of the bracket.

Intermediate their ends, the arms 23' carry a transverse rod 34 parallelto shaft 22- and secured by means such as a screw 35 at one or botharms. An inverted L-shaped guard 36, having a forwardly projectinghorizontal member and a 35 downwardly projecting vertical member, issecured to red 34 so as to overlie the latter and I serve as a guard toprevent the slack carbon paper 31 from encountering the fixed frame 38of the machine.

ii) The carbonpaper and work-sheet holder, Figure 2, is composed of asubstantially rectangular back-sheet 39 of heavy paper or other durable,flexible material, preferably about two or three inches longer than thework-sheets or stationery l9, and slightly wider, except for the lowertwo or three inches, which increase about one half inch in width on eachside. A rectangular front member 40, which may be of stiff cloth, hasdimensions approximately equal to the lower portion of the back-sheet,and is fastenedthereto by staples 4|, as illustrated, or by suitablestitching or adhesive. The inner edges of the fastening should be inparallel relation to each other and to the edges of the holder.

The front member 40 is so located as to have its lower edge parallel to,and about /2" above the lower edge of the back-sheet. The fasteners 4|for securing the front and back members 40,

39 are so placed as to leave the upper half inch 60 of the front memberfree, forming a flap 42 to facilitate the insertion of the front sheets;with the distance between the inner edges of the fasteners suitable toprevent the passage of the work-sheets, they, therefore, resting on theupper edges of the fastening devices, which, being parallel to the loweredge of the holder, position the work-sheets in rectilinear alignment.

The carbon paper holder 39, 40 is substantially a sleeve, which in useis slipped over the carbon paper, back-sheet uppermost, with the carboncoated side facing the back-sheet. The carbon sheets 43 are drawnthrough the holder until'the leading edges are even with the lower edgeof the holder.

The holder with the carbons in place, may now helical spring.

be inserted into the machine from the rear in the usual manner androlled forward until the upper part of the front unit isabout ti" abovethe upto permit the used carbons to be withdrawn therefrom withoutremoving the unit from the machine.

To this end I employ a pair of clamps 44 mounted on a transverse shaft48 disposed within the curved upper portion 43 of the paper table l4,and journalled in rearwardly and upwardly extending brackets 41 securedto a transverse member 43 fixed to the platen frame. The clamps 44 areforwardly and downwardly extending metal tongues with inwardly pointingextremities 49 carrying gripping sleeves 49* of rubher or similarmaterial. The clamps are fixed to the shaft and so located that thegripping extremities can engage the extending sides at the lower portionof the work holder.

A helical spring ill, one end engaging the bracket 41 as at II and theother end inserted in a suitable hole 52 in an arm 53 fixed to shaft 45,urges the shaft in a clockwise direction. A manually operable lever 54,the front end of which is formed into a finger-piece, is suitablypivoted intermediate its ends on a projection vi5 from bracket 41. Therear end of lever 54 has fixed thereto'an inwardly projecting pin 56 toengage suitably curved notches 51, 58, formed in the forward edge, ofarm 53.

With the lever 54 raised so that pin 56 engages the outer notch 58, thegrips 49 will be raised clear of the work-sheets and carbon holder, asshownin Figure 1. when it is desirable to anchor the carbon holder, aswhen fresh carbon sheets are to be drawn into position, the platen I0 isrotated so as to bring the extended edges of the holder into positionbetween the clamps and the paper-table, and the lever 54 is depressed tothrow pin 56 into engagement with the inner notch 51 of arm 53, thusrotating shaft counterclockwise against the tension of helical 'springand suitably pressing the grips 49 against the carbon holder to anchorit.

One of the clamps 44, preferably the left-hand one, may carry a suitableupwardly projecting guide 59 at its hub end, to contact the extendededge of the carbon paper holder and act as a side-edge guide. Accidentaltransverse shifting of the clamp. mounting rod 45 is prevented by asuitable collar 60 at the extremity opposite the Each end of the platenframe I i is formed with a horizontal plane upper surface on which aplate BI is secured, as by screws. Intermediate its extremities, buttoward the rear, plate Si is formed with a pair of integral, oppositelydisposed lugs 62 extending upward, and suitably drilled to receive acontinuous shaft; A leaf spring 63 riveted to plate 9| has its free endextending between the lugs.

The upper or auxiliary feed-rollers 64 ar mounted on a bar 35 whichengages a pair of rearwardly extending arms 33, the extremities of whichare outwardly bentto form shafts suitable for journalling in the bearingsurfaces formed in the lugs 82.

The shaft extremity of each arm has secured thereto, as by set-screws,an eccentric collar 61 latter are being inserted into the lug bearings.

The collars are of sufficient width topermit ready rotation of thefeed-roll shaft assembly, but to prevent its excessive lateral shifting.Each collar is shaped to act as a cam which its associated leaf springengages so as to yieldably retain the feed-roll shaft assembly in eitherits operative or inoperative position, as determined by the operator.

A knife bar 68 having a rear cutting edge against which to tear the usedcarbon paper is secured to the upper feed-roll shaft supporting armswith its forward edge close to but suitably clearing the upperfeed-rolls.

The rear edge of the assembly, when the latter is being rolled back intowriting position, is liable to carry over the top of the carbon roll,looping the slack carbon paper in some such manner as shown by Figure'7. To overcome this condition,

I use an idler spool 69, having suitably flanged ends, to ride on thecarbon paper between the carbon roll and the carbon holder assembly. Thespool may be of vwood'or other light material, as it weight isusedmerely to draw the end of the carbon holder assembly downward over theedge of the paper table so as to-clear the carbon roll, and to preventthe formation of slack on the carbon roll.

A simple rack is formed by an upwardly and rearwardly extendingcross-bar Ill onwhich are secured metal strips 1 l, shapedto form askeleton table surface on which the work-sheets may rest,

the front portion of the strips being curved around the platen, withrearwardly extending continuations having curved extremities to act as;a guide to preclude the interference of the worksheets and carbonholder with the carbon paper roll.

For mounting the rack, the upper pressure roller shaft support plate BIis modified to include an upwardly extending rear bracket 12. A rivet 13having a neck and head I3 disposed behind the bracket secures a frontplate spring 14, which at its upper portion is formed with a suitablereacts as'a positive aligning means.

slots.

"contact with the top of the staples.

cess to engage a ball 15 and urge it into an adjacent hole 16 drilledthrough the bracket. The hole diameter is slightly smaller than that ofthe after which a downward pressure will seat the slots and bring theholes 18 to a position where the projecting balls 15 will engage thelower end of the holes and serve as a yieldable lock, as illustrated byFigure '9.

After the carbonpaper holder has been slipped over the carbon sheetsandinserted into the ma chine, as previously explained, the work-sheets 19may be inserted from the front, and interleaved with the carbons, withtheir lower edge against the top of the staples or stitching, which Theoriginal or outer work-sheet is placed behind the extended front flap,and will also be positively aligned by The as sembly is then rolled backinto writing position.

After typing, the unit is rolled forward until the upper flap is aboutabove the wing scales, after which the original and copies of thework-sheets may be removed, leaving the holder 39 in position for thenext insertion of the unit returned to writing position, in which case acarbon impression 8| of the envelope address is made on the manifoldcopies. Rolling the unit forward again makes it possible to remove thework.

When a fresh supply of carbon is required, the work-sheets havingpreviously been removed,'the carbon holder with the carbons is rolledback until the extended lower portion of the holder is beneath the grips49. The grips are brought into operating position by a downward pressureon lever-.54 and the usual paper feed-rolls are unlocked. The leadingedges of the carbon paper may then be grasped by the operator, asillustrated by Figure 6, and a fresh supply drawn into position.

The used portions of the carbon sheets are torn off against the knife68, as illustrated by Figure 5, and the holder is again ready for use.

-In operation, some of the multiple-ply carbonweb is drawn off from thespool, and the leading end of the web is threaded through the carbonclip or band 40, and drawn up to the top of the backing sheet 39. Thelatter, with its loosely clipped carbons, is then introduced top-endfirst downwardly in rear of the platen, and the latter is rolledforwardly until the band or looseclip 40 rises at the front of theplaten. Then the upper or leading end portions ofthe carbonplies areswung forwardly and laid over the platen. The firstwork-sheet I9 is thenlaid upon the leading end portion of the backing sheet 39, and thebottom end of the work-sheet drops to the printing-line gage, whichconsists of the opposite stops ll at the upper portion of thecarbon-clip. The bottom corners of the work-sheet rest upon these stops;the latter being separated sufficiently to admit the narrow carbon-webs.Thus the position' of the work-sheet may pass freely between the stops.

Then the rear or under carbon-leaf is laid back and, down upon the saidwork-sheet. Then a second work-sheet is deposited in the machine,overlying said under carbon, and also resting upon said gage 4|. Thenthe second carbon is laid back upon the second work-sheet. Then thethird (or original) work-sheet is introduced and laid back upon thesecond carbon. Thus the work-sheets and carbons are interleaved. Thedevice ll forms a support against which the combined backing sheet andcarbon-clip may rest at such operation.

Then the platen is. rolled backwardly, to carry the backing sheet 39 inreverse direction around the platen, together with the band or carbonclip 40, and the carbon-plies and work-sheets, as a unit. Thus thework-sheets are brought to proper position for beginning the first lineof typing. The work-sheets are held at their bottom edges by the upperlip of the carbon-clip, and conducted thereby between the platen and thefeed-rolls; the latter thereupon serving to' hold the intercalatedsheets against the platen, Figure 1.

After the typing is completed, the platen is rolled forwardly to bringthe work-sheets to releasing or delivery position. For this purpose isgaged by the stops, whereas the carbon-webs the clip or band 40 isbrought up to its former station at the front of the platen (see Figure4), and the top rolls 64 are cast off, while the carbons and backingsheet 39 remain in the grip of the bottom rolls l9. At this stage thereis no further reason to retain the work-sheets in the machine, and theyare grasped by their leading ends and withdrawn, Figure 4. The carbonsmay again be flipped forwardly over the front of the platen, and freshwork-sheets may be intercalated with the carbons as before.

During the insertion and typing of the sheets, the clamps 4i'i mayremain cast off. But when the leading portions of the carbons havebecome worn, the clamps may be swung down against the side tongues 82,to hold the combined backing sheet and carbon-clips, while the operatorpulls the multiple-ply carbon-web through the clip, and tears 011 theused carbon.

From the lower portion of each of the intercalating table-frames ll,there may be extended upwardly and rearwardly a guard 83, overlying theintercalated sheets in their movements to and from the platen, and attheir rear ends these guards may arch at 84 over the guide 36, 36, toprevent accidental upward fouling of the pack.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A manifolding assemblage for a front-strike, revoluble platentypewriting machine, including, in combination, a supply of carbonwebarranged behind said platen, and a carbon-web and workpiece holderhaving a backing sheet, and a transverse band having end attachments tothe backing-sheet margins to form a fiat sleeve, at the lower portion ofthe backing sheet, affording an opening through which the carbon-web isthreaded, said holder with the inserted carbonweb being run into themachine into position for interleavement of work-pieces with thecarhon-web, said sleeve-opening and carbon-web being narrower than saidwork-pieces, said end attachments of, the band forming lower-edge gagesto engage the work-piece margins that extend beyond the carbon-web,whereby said workpieces may be collated by means of said holder.

2. A manifolding assemblage for a front-strike, revoluble platentypewriting machine, including, in combination, a supply of carbon-webarranged behind said platen, and a carbon-web and work-piece holderhaving a backing sheet, and a transverse band having end attachments tothe backing-sheet margins to form a flat sleeve, at the lower portion ofthe backing sheet, affording an opening through which the carbon-web isthreaded, said holder with the inserted carbonweb being run into themachine into position for interleavement of workpieces with thecarbonweb, said sleeve-opening and carbon-web being narrower than saidwork-pieces, said end attachments of the band forming lower-edge gagesto engage the work-piecemargins that extend beyond the carbon-web,whereby said work-pieces may be collated by means of said holder, saidsleeve being of sufificient length so that both the backing sheet andtransverse band are confinable between the platen and the bottomfeedrolls when the said carbon-web and work-piece holder is inwork-piece-receiving position, whereby the said holder may be drawnsmoothlyaround the platen to bring the interleaved workpieces andcarbon-web into printing position 76 without the loss of alignmentthereof, said band being extended above said attachments, to form atransverse flap for clipping the outermost work-piece. w

3. For a front-strike, revoluble platen typewriting machine having arear-insertion papertable behind the platen, a manifolding assemblageincluding, in combination, a transfer web, means for paying off said webfrom a supply behind said platen, and a web-riding work-piece gage andholder, said holder including a flexible back sheet and a substantiallyshorter flexible front sheet, said back and front sheets having marginalattachments to form a sleeve at the bottom of the holder through whichthe transfer web is threaded, said attachments also forming bottom-edgegages for work-pieces interleaved with the transfer web, said holderhaving margins at its lower portion extending beyond said transfer webso as to be engageable by side clamps to clamp the holder against saidrear paper-table preparatory to paying off a fresh portion of transferweb. I

4. The combination with a typewriter-carriage having end-members, arevoluble platen and a rear paper-table, and a carbon-roll supportedbehind said paper-table, of a sheet-collating support including across-bar attached to said endmembers in front of said rear paper-table,and a plurality of strips secured transversely to said cross-bar tooverlie the top side of said c-oss-bar to form the collating surface,each strip having a lower end-portion'bent reflexly back toward theunder side of the bar and beyond the latter to form a guide cooperatingwith said rear papertable to guide the incoming carbons.

5. In a typewriting machine comprising a frame, a shiitablecarriage-frame, suitable supports to carry a roll of transfer materialin fixed relation to said carriage-frame, key-bars and associatedtype-bars, and a revoluble platen to receive a flexible holder throughwhich sheets of said transfer material may pass, said holderadditionally serving as a guide for the front insertion of work-sheets,means under control of the operator to engage said holder in such'manneras to permit the passage of the transfer material therethrough whilepreventing the movement of said holder.

6. In a. typewriting machine to'co-operate with manifolding meansincluding a roll of continuous single or multi-ply transfer sheets and aholder to pass such transfer sheets between its front and rear membersand additionally to serve as a guide for the front insertion ofwork-sheets, locking means which under the control of the operator willengage said holder so as to permit the pas-- sage of said transfersheets therethrough while preventing the movement of said holder, saidmeans comprising a plurality of detent-members mounted on a journ'aledshaft, means to rotate said shaft so as to bring said detent-membersinto or out of engagement with said holder, and locking means to retainsaid detent-members in either an operative or inoperative position.

7. For use with a typewriting machine having a paper-feeding platen,manifolding equipment including the combination of -a roll from which alength of transfer web feedable around said platen is paid off to hangin a loop between said roll and platen, said roll being looked after theweb is paid off, said loop rising and falling extensively'consonantlywith advance and return of the paid-off web-portion for typing on sheetssuccessively placed on said platen, and a free idler arranged to hang insaid loop and follow its rise and fall so as to prevent the slackening 1ofusaid transfer web on said locked transfer-web 8. As an article ofmanufacture, a holder for 5 transfer sheets and work-sheets for use inmanifolding typewritten material, said holder arrangedto receive thefree end of a transfer web to be introduced therewith around the platenof a typewriting machine, after which introduction the stationery orother work-sheets may be positioned in said holder-by front insertionand moved with said holder into typing position;

' said holder comprising a flexible back sheet, and Y a substantiallyshorter flexiblefront sheet, said front and backsheets being attachedtogether at their margins to form a sleeve through which the transferweb is threaded, the attachments also forming bottom-edge gages forwork-pieces interleaved with the transfer web, the width of go theholder at its lower portion being substantially greater than thetransfer web to form margins, laterally outside of the sleeve, forclamping the holder preparatory "to advancing the .web'

' therethrough. 2 9. An intercalating device including a backing sheethaving a front band, means for supporting "the backing sheet for typing,and a carbon-spool mounted on said supporting means, the leading end ofthe carbon being. led over the backing 30 sheet and under the band to beloosely clipped thereby, saidsheet having within the side margins of theband opposite stops to gage the bottom ends of thework-sheetsintercalated with the carbon-plies.

10. An intercalating device including a backr 45 hand projecting abovesaid stops, to form a lip to guide the insertion of the work-sheets.

'11. The combination of a typewriting carriage having a platen, anintercalating table extending rearwardly from the delivery side of theplaten, a backing sheet having a front carbon-confining band and sidestops within the side margins of the band, and a carbon-spool mounted onsaid carriage at the rear of the intercalating table. 5 12. Thecombination of atypewriting carriage having a platen, an intercalatingtable extendin rearwardly from the delivery side of the platen, abacking sheet having a front carbon-confining band and side stops withinthe band, and a car- 10 hon-spool mounted on said carriage at the rearof the intercaiating table, said backing sheet having opposite sideextensions, and releasable clamps mounted upon the carriage to engagesaid extensions to hold the backing sheet while the worn carbon ispulled through the clip. 13. The combination, in-a front-striketypewriting machine, of a carriage having a platen and a rear insertiontable, an intercalating table extending rearwardly from the deliveryside of 2 the platen, a backing sheet having a front carbonconflningband forming a clip andsideworkpiece-collating-stops within the band, acarbonspool mounted on said carriage at the rear ofthe intercalatingtable, said backing sheet having opposite side extensions, releasableclampsmounted upon the carriage to engage said exten sions to hold thebacking sheet against the rear insertion table while the carbon ispulled through the clip for discarding the worn carbon, and a knifemovable to and from an operative position near the delivery side of theplaten, for severing the worn portion of the carbon, subsequently tobeing pulled through the clip.

;14. The combination of a typewriterecarriage having a platen, anintercalating table extending upwardly and rearwardly from the deliveryside of the platen, a rear paper-table, a backing sheet having a frontcarbon-confining band and side stops within the margins of the band, togage the bottom ends of work-sheets intercalated with the carbon-plies,a carbon-spool mounted on said carriage at the rear of the intercalatingtable, and a guard between theintercalating table and the introductoryside of the platen, said guard 4 arching over the rear paper-table fordirecting the incoming carbons over the latter.

" JESSEA.B.BMITH.

